Former All Black Kieran Read says current All Blacks players "are trying their best" at a time where the team isn't always coming away with a win.
The team's coach Ian Foster is under fire and is facing criticism for the All Blacks' recent failings, having led the side to many unwanted records during his tenure.
New Zealand has lost their last three test matches, following their most recent defeat at the hands of the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Read told The Project when the All Blacks do lose it's "tough", but said the expectation amongst the team is a lot higher than the expectation outside of the team.
"Right now they are thinking of their own motivations and how they can try and get it done I guess this weekend."
The former All Black said it's important to put the game into perspective.
"We're playing a game that is a game and there's people involved in it and it's the people that matter."
He told The Project that it's the players' families are who struggle the most with the public backlash when a game doesn't go well.
Read backed former All Black Julian Savea after he tweeted earlier this week condemning some of the backlash Foster has faced online.
"Shocked and disturbed at some of the comments and remarks I've seen and heard about Ian Foster on social media lately," Savea wrote on his Twitter account.
Read agreed, saying: "We've got to look at the person first and these guys are trying their best every week".
Watch the full interview above.
